• BSB’s net profit jumps 230%July 9, 2025
    Delivers P76.8m net profit from P23.3m   RelatedPosts BSB’s net profit jumps 230% BPP feasting on the BDP CEOs face axing STAFF WRITER editors@thepatriot.co.bw   Botswana Savings Bank (BSB) has hailed its bold three-year strategy – Lesedi 2022-2025 –… Read more: BSB’s net profit jumps 230%
  • BPP feasting on the BDPJuly 8, 2025
    Welcomes defecting BDP members Ex-minister Makgalemele dumps BDP to join BPP Motive of some seen as opportunistic BAKANG TIRO editors@thepatriot.co.bw RelatedPosts BSB’s net profit jumps 230% BPP feasting on the BDP CEOs face axing A strategic partner in the… Read more: BPP feasting on the BDP
  • STRIDES FOR SUCCESS: VACANICESJuly 7, 2025
    RelatedPosts STRIDES FOR SUCCESS: VACANICES FARM TRAQUAIR : FARM WORKER UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA : Professor in Sociology
  • FARM TRAQUAIR : FARM WORKERJuly 7, 2025
    RelatedPosts STRIDES FOR SUCCESS: VACANICES FARM TRAQUAIR : FARM WORKER UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA : Professor in Sociology
  • UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA : Professor in SociologyJuly 7, 2025
    RelatedPosts STRIDES FOR SUCCESS: VACANICES FARM TRAQUAIR : FARM WORKER UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA : Professor in Sociology
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
  • Login
  • Register
Sunday, July 13, 2025
17 °c
Gaborone
21 ° Tue
22 ° Wed
24 ° Thu
26 ° Fri
The Patriot On Sunday
Subscribe
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
No Result
View All Result
Cart / $0.00

No products in the cart.

  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
No Result
View All Result
The Patriot On Sunday
No Result
View All Result
Home News

‘Renaming F/town airport politically motivated’

patriot by patriot
January 16, 2021
in News
237
0
491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
ShareShareShare

Cabinet’s decision to rename Francistown International Airport after the late former Botswana People’s Party (BPP) leader, Philip Gaonwe Matante has divided public opinion, with many accusing the ruling Botswana Democratic party (BDP) of seeking to gain political mileage ahead of national elections due in four weeks.

The current BPP leader, Motlatsi Molapisi told this publication that even though they whole heartedly accept such a decision to rename the international airport after PG -as the late Matante was popularly known, the timing is very suspicious as the country is about to go to the much anticipated general elections slated for October 23. “As the BPP, we are convinced that Matante should have long been honoured by naming one of the public institutions after him, considering his immense contribution to the development of this republic. We once tabled a motion in Francistown City Council requesting that Mahube Primary School be named after Matante but the ruling Botswana Democratic Party councillors used their numerical advantage to shoot down the motion. The late Matante is one of the pioneers of the present day Botswana,” Molapisi said.

RelatedPosts

BPP feasting on the BDP

CEOs face axing

Boko’s hot POTATO

The veteran politician further held that the late Mathomola Modise once came up with a proposal that Nyangabgwe referral hospital should be named after Matante but once again, the proposal was rejected. Molapisi opined that the BDP was not willing to name any institution after Matante since he was an opposition politician.

According to Molapisi, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) government did not consult the late Matante’s family and his party before the decision was taken. He is of the view that a proper consultation could have been done prior to the decision being taken. “The decision was taken quickly because President Mokgweetsi Masisi is trying every trick in the book to canvas for votes for the ruling party to retain power. Masisi is under pressure to retain his presidency and he can see that the opposition is now posing a real threat. To me these are the last kicks of a dying horse since the BDP will be dethroned at the upcoming election,” he continued, predicting that once the airport has been renamed, the BDP could start using the issue during their campaigns particularly in places where Matante is well known.

Molapisi who is also the coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) Chairperson, indicated that in 1962 and 1963 Matante addressed the United Nations committee on decolonisation demanding immediate independence for Botswana but such important historic information is deliberately omitted just because Matante was an opposition activist. He showered the late Matante with praises saying he advocated for Botswana to have its own currency adding that Matante was the one who came up with the motion for the formation of Botswana Defence Force.

President Mokgweetsi Masisi is expected to officiate at the event to rename the international airport in mid-October. Matante was the first Member of Parliament for Francistown in 1965 under the Botswana People’s Party. He was also the leader of opposition in parliament from 1965 to 1979.

Related

Tags: airportFRANCISTOWN

Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.

Unsubscribe
Previous Post

Bangwato excited over Tshekedi’s defection

Next Post

BDP pushed me out -Tshekedi

Related Posts

BPP feasting on the BDP
News

BPP feasting on the BDP

July 8, 2025
CEOs face axing
News

CEOs face axing

July 7, 2025
Boko’s hot POTATO
News

Boko’s hot POTATO

July 7, 2025
Tshekedi in BPF race
News

Tshekedi in BPF race

July 2, 2025
Motsepe, Butterfly’s last laugh
News

Motsepe, Butterfly’s last laugh

June 30, 2025
ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE RISING
News

ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE RISING

June 25, 2025
Next Post
BDP pushed me out -Tshekedi

BDP pushed me out -Tshekedi

Please login to join discussion
  • BSB’s net profit jumps 230%July 9, 2025
    Delivers P76.8m net profit from P23.3m   RelatedPosts BSB’s net profit jumps 230% BPP feasting on the BDP CEOs face axing STAFF WRITER editors@thepatriot.co.bw   Botswana Savings Bank (BSB) has hailed its bold three-year strategy – Lesedi 2022-2025 –… Read more: BSB’s net profit jumps 230%
  • BPP feasting on the BDPJuly 8, 2025
    Welcomes defecting BDP members Ex-minister Makgalemele dumps BDP to join BPP Motive of some seen as opportunistic BAKANG TIRO editors@thepatriot.co.bw RelatedPosts BSB’s net profit jumps 230% BPP feasting on the BDP CEOs face axing A strategic partner in the… Read more: BPP feasting on the BDP
  • STRIDES FOR SUCCESS: VACANICESJuly 7, 2025
    RelatedPosts STRIDES FOR SUCCESS: VACANICES FARM TRAQUAIR : FARM WORKER UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA : Professor in Sociology
  • FARM TRAQUAIR : FARM WORKERJuly 7, 2025
    RelatedPosts STRIDES FOR SUCCESS: VACANICES FARM TRAQUAIR : FARM WORKER UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA : Professor in Sociology
  • UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA : Professor in SociologyJuly 7, 2025
    RelatedPosts STRIDES FOR SUCCESS: VACANICES FARM TRAQUAIR : FARM WORKER UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA : Professor in Sociology
The Patriot On Sunday

© 2024 Copyright The Patriot On Sunday - Inspired by Search Mart.

Navigate Site

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders

© 2024 Copyright The Patriot On Sunday - Inspired by Search Mart.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?